Domestic appliance



July 1, 1930. R. L.' LEE 1,768,617

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 14, 1924 Patented July 1, 1930 UNITEDFSTATES PATENT OFFICE RALPH L. LEIL OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR '10 DELCO-I'IGET COMPANY, OF IDAY'JEOIT OHIO, A CORPORAT ION OF DELAWARE I nomns'rrc APPLIANCE Application uled January 14, 1924. SeriaI No. 686,126.

.This-inventionrelates to suction cleaning apparatus of the type wherein a suction nozzle associated with a suction pump is moved by a suitable handle over a surface to be cleaned and the dust-laden air discharged from the pump enters a dust separator, which traps the dust and allows practically only clean air to escape to the surrounding atmosphere.

In apparatus of this type constructed for domestic use the dust separator is generally a bag of porous fabric material which is woven closely enough to trap most of the dust in the air which enters the bag, the bag being sufliciently porous to permit the a1r to escape. It is well known that unless the dust bag is emptied and cleaned out frequently so much dust will collect therein that the flow. of air through the bag to the surrounding atmosphere will be seriously interfered with. This will tend to build up back pressure in the suction pump and reduce the.

- degree of suction at the suction cleaning no z-.

zle.

It is one of the objects of the invention to' separate and trap the dust in the air which is dischargedfrom the suction pump and at the same time provide a free passage ofair from the suction pump to the surrounding atmosphere, the dust container receiving a substantial quantity of dust without interfering at any time with the operation of the suction pump so that the dust container need be emptied only occasionally.

As a means of accomplishing this'object the present invention provides a substitute for the usual cloth bag dust trap or separator, in the form of a motor driven sepa rator preferably of the centrifugal type which is detachably secured at its lower end to the pump outlet and is swingingly suspended at its upper end'to the cleaner handle so that the dustseparator will move with the. handle relative to the suction pump as the cleaner is manipulated.

Further objects and advantages ofthe present invention will be apparent from the ollowing description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

.Fig. 1 is anelevation of a conventional type suction cleaner showing the present invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a sectionalcview on the line 22 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 4-isa sectional view on the line 4-4 p flange 32 which-in the conventional type of cleaner is attached directly to a cloth bag in Wl'llCh the dust discharged from the pump is trapped.

The attachment forming an embodiment of the present invention which is substituted for the usual cloth bag includes-a ring member 33 which is clamped to the flange 32 in any convenient manner such as bolts 34 passing through the flange 32 and the ring 33' and cooperating with thumb nuts 35. A packlng gasket 36 is located between the flange 32 and the ring 33. A flexible tube 37 connects the ring 33 with a ring 38 which supports a tube 39 and a dust container 40'. The parts 38, 39, and .40 may be'permanently aztlclshed as by welding or brazing, indicated a The pipe 39 is provided with means wherebythe dust-laden air discharged from this pipe is given a swirling motion directing the dust against the side walls of the container 40, and means whereby the dust-laden air discharges through pipe 39 is deflected toward the side walls of the container 40 and is prevented from passing directlyto the outlets of the container 40. The said means comprises a circular bafile member 42 which intercepts air moving in the direction of arrow 43 in the pipe 39 and causes this air to be parted and to move in the directions of the arrows 44 towards the side walls of the container 40, and also includes a plurality of curved -bafiles or vanes 45 which cause the air to take 11 a whirling motion substantially in the irection of arrow 46 shown in Tn order to make this whirling motion more vigorous whereby the dust is centrifugally removed from the air, there is provided a motor driven propellor 50 having radiating blades51. The propellor 50 is mounted on ashaft 52 which is driven by motor 53. The shaft 52 and motor 53 are mounted on a frame 54 comprising substantially parallel end walls 55 and 56 and a cylindrical side wall provided with openings 58. The wall 55 is provided with outwardly extending notche cars 59, each receiving a bolt 60 having a ball and socket connection at 61 with the container 40. The wall 55 is provided with an annular flange 62 which receives the open end of the container 40. When the bolts 60 are in position shown in Fig. 2 and the nuts 63 are tightened up, the frame 54 will be clamped to the container 40.

The centrifugal dust separating attachment is supported by the suction cleaner through the agency of the flexible, pipe 37 and by means of a bale 7 O which is pivotally attached to the motor 53 and includes a loop 71 extending around a bracket 72 attached to the handle 28 by means of screws 73 and so shaped as to provide a portion 72 extending substantially parallel-to the handle and a portion 72 providing a loop which is more remote from the handle. When the vacuum cleaner is in use the loops 71 and 72 may be inengagement as shown in Fig. 1. Generally when the cleaner is not in use it is put away with the handle standing vertically or inclined slightly toward the nozzle of the cleaner instead of toward the discharge and dust trap. This movement of the handle is permitted since the bale loop 71 may move along the portion 72 of. the bracket 72.

The motor 53 is provided with a controlling switch which is connected with a flexible cable 81 connected with a service cable 27 having the usual plug and socket connections with an electrical convenience outlet located on the wallor floor.

The manner of using this invention is ,as follows: The switches 26 and 80 are closed to cause the motors 25 and-53 to operate. 1

The motor 25 will operate the suction pump 24 to cause the dusts laden air to be drawn in through the nozzle 23 and to be discharged through the pipe 39in the container 40. As previously explained the baflle 42 and vanes 45 cause the air discharged from the pipe 39 to be deflected toward the side walls of the container 40 and to take up a swirling motion as indicated by. the arrow 46. The operation of the propellor 50 by the motor 53 causes this swirling motion to be increased whereby to efi'ectively separate the dust from the discharged air b centrifugal action. Air is substantially ree of dust when it passes through the wall 55 and outvthrough the openings 58 of the frame 54. It is obvious that a substantial quantity of dust may be collected in the container 40 before the exit of air in ipe 39 is interfered with. So long as this substantial increase of back ressure on the suction ump 24 by reason 0 the accumulation of ust in the container.

In order to remove the dust collected in the container'4O the frame 54 is removed from the container by loosening the nuts 63 and swinging the pivoted bolts 60 away from the notched cars 59. Then the container 40 may be lowered for emptying without disconnecting from the cleaner pum If desired the container can be remove from the suction cleaner by unfastening also the nuts 35 and dust may then be removed from the container.

While the form of embodiment of the invention' as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form it is to'be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A power-driven dust separator for suction cleaning apparatus having a portable suction pump and a handle for moving the apparatus, and comprising a power-driven device adapted to be sus ended from the handle, a dust container avin a flexible inlet pipe adapted to be attac ed to the pump outlet, and'means for detachably connecting the container and power-driven device to permit emptying the container while the container and device remain connected respectively with the pump and handle.

2. A power-driven dust separator for suction cleaning apparatus having a portable suction pump and a handle for moving the apparatus, and. comprising a power-driven device adapted to be suspended from the handle, a dust container adapted to be attached to the pump outlet, and means for detachably connecting the container and power-driven device to permit emptying the container while the container and device remain connected respectively with the pump and handle.

3. An attachment adapted to be substituted for the cloth bag of a vacuum cleaner of the type having a suction nozzle and a pivotally mounted handle for moving the nozzle over the surface to be cleaned, said attachment including a power-driven device for moving dust laden air, and a non-flexible and impervious dust container, said attachoes not occur there will be no ment also including a flexible connection communicating with the container and being adapted to be removably attached to the nozzle.

4. An attachment adapted to be substituted for the cloth bag of a vacuum cleaner of the type having a suction nozzle and a pivotally mounted handle for moving the nozzle over the surface to be cleaned, said attachment including a power-driven device for moving dus't laden air and a dust container, said attachment also including a flexible connection communicating with the container and being adapted to be removably attached to the nozzle and handle.

5. An attachment adapted to be substituted for the cloth bag of a vacuum cleaner. of the type having a suction nozzle and a handle for moving the nozzle over the surface to be cleaned, said attachment including a power-driven device for moving dust laden air and a dust container, said container being adapted to be attached to the nozzle and said device being adapted to be attached to 257 the handle.

In testimony whereof 1 hereto aflix my signature.

RALPH L. LEE. 

